Yuku free message boards

My Recent Posts · Jan 25 08 2:01 AM

I agree with Spoiler II. I hated AWIL because of all stuff he mentioned, plus the "werewolf" looks more like a cross between a bear and a fat badger than a werewolf, and it moves like a clunky animatron in a department store. The end scene where it runs rampant in London was pitiful. Worst movie werewolf ever! And the worst werewolf movie ever as well!

I'll take The Howling in my gulag cell any time!

My Recent Posts · Jan 25 08 11:41 AM

2 names in my book. Anyone else?

My Recent Posts · Jan 26 08 12:42 AM

I still say the worst werewolf movie ever is THE ADVENTURES OF SHARKBOY AND LAVAGIRL.

My Recent Posts · Sep 27 08 8:02 AM

I just watched AWIL for the first time in about 20 years last night. Picked up the HD DVD cheap (it looks great).

I LOVED this when it first came out. Saw it at least twice in the theater, and again on HBO or the like (wow, has it really been 28 years?)
Somehow it doesn't hold up for me now. I didn't hate it, but I found it kind of "thin" and the ending just felt tacked on and abrupt - it didn't seem to know what it wanted to be. I also have always found the full size werewolf too stiff and unconvincing ( the big transformation scene is still great, however).

For whatever reason, I've seen HOWLING more over the years, and I do like it better (I liked them equally on first theatrical viewing). It seems more complete and certain of itself and what it wants to be.

Still respect both Landis and Dante and am glad they made these fan-savvy genre films.

SAM33

My Recent Posts · Sep 29 08 1:59 AM

I too am split 50/50. Jeez...Thanks for presenting the horror version of Sophie's Choice!

My Recent Posts · Sep 29 08 4:32 AM

Don't make me choose. I love 'em both.

My Recent Posts · Sep 29 08 3:07 PM

For all the people saying the AWIL werewolf is the worst ever put to film; are you sure about that? I always thought it was one of the best and can think of several others to which it's far superior. Really, there are some stinkers out there.

That being said, while I think AWIL is a great monster movie The Howling is probably the best werewolf movie of all time and features what I will always consider to be the definitive movie werewolf. They're corrupt and evil, they regenerate, can transform whenever they want, (so you're never safe!) and they look scary as hell. Coolest werewolves ever imo, and I love how they stick to werewolf lore and can only be killed with silver or fire.

I think the wooded location is used to great effect and while the more urban London setting in AWIL is an interesting change of pace it just doesn't sell me like those misty, creepy woods in The Howling does. AWIL also alters the werewolf lore quite a bit and while I think that's fine the whole person you killed returning as a wisecracking ghost thing really didn't work for me.

Ultimately The Howling just feels more like a horror movie than AWIL, with the vague in-jokes, the creepy atmosphere, the silver bullets and the fact that it's Dick Miller selling them, the sometimes silly musical organ cues and an effectively utilized John Carradine. Joe Dante seemed to "get it" in a way that Landis didn't. To bad about the sequels to both films though! (Although The Howling Part 2 is enjoyable, but for all the wrong reasons!)

My Recent Posts · Oct 1 08 11:00 PM

I think the design and execution of the werewolf in AWIL is superb. It looks and moves like an actual animal, which was the likely intention of both Landis and Baker. Not only were actual quadraped werewolves a rarity prior to the film, but because the majority of them were actors in make-up, the personality of the human characters still came through. Because David's personality is completely submerged in his bestial form, it only makes sense that it be completely animalistic, down to the posture. In contrast, the werewolves in The Howling are expressions of the character's personalities; it makes much more sense to make them bipedal and even give a touch of humanity to the facial features because the characters were already bestial prior to their physical transformations.

My Recent Posts · Sep 30 09 6:43 PM

So the digitally remastered version of AWIL is now out on DVD, with a great new feature length commentary 'Beware the Moon' where everyone pitches up. Rick Baker really impressed me in the documentary as a) being a genius and b) being a really nice guy. He spent most of his interview pointing out the work that his assistants did, and naming them. He's my new Horror Hero!

My Recent Posts · Oct 1 09 1:17 PM

Mark me as a HOWLING fan, though I like AWIL well enough.

When I first saw AWIL all those years ago, the werewolf design reminded me quite a bit of the Frank Frazetta werewolf from his, er, "Werewolf" from CREEPY #1 (written by Larry Ivie). I first read this in the CREEPY paperback omnibus 30 some years ago.

The whole thing can be seen here:
http://uraniumcafe-the.com/2008/09/24/frank-frazettas-fantastic-werewolf-story-from-creepy-1/

My Recent Posts · Oct 1 09 1:56 PM

I remember this story. Like the werewolf concept very much -- the only recent film that's used this type of critter is Wild Country, an otherwise unmemorable low budget Irish/Scottish production.

I seem to recall that Bernie Wrightson also created a truly great werewolf in another mag -- Swamp Thing, maybe?

... Reed

My Recent Posts · Oct 1 09 3:02 PM

I probably said this already but I can't stand HOWLING.
Don't hate me.

My Recent Posts · Oct 1 09 4:37 PM

Should there be separate Howling and AWIL threads though? This is the type of question that keeps me awake.
?

My Recent Posts · Oct 2 09 5:01 PM

There should be different threads for DISSECTION discussion I guess. I always preferred THE HOWLING because the werewolves were scarier to me and you get a Forrest Ackerman cameo.

But I do like AMERICAN WEREWOLF too. I would like to see THE HOWLING on Bluray.

My Recent Posts · Oct 2 09 8:12 PM

The Howling or American Werewolf In London, which is better?

It's an interesting question to ask but for me, I couldn't give you a definitive answer because I like both movies based on the merits of each. The treatment of the werewolf in each one is different and I like them both. However, I did think that the werewolf in the latter film was kind of strange looking, still I liked the effects during the transformation.

For the moment, I tend to favor The Howling, but only because I don't own the other flick yet. And I do like the story more in The Howling but that doesn't mean that it's better.

People have their own tastes, some will like one over the other, and while it is fun to see what others' opinions are about either or both, it would be hard to discern which is actually better.

Fun question, though!

My Recent Posts · Oct 5 09 5:30 PM

Hi,

Wanted to weigh in and state that while both movies are very cool, I'd have to go with AWIL, although it's such a close call even the two girls are a toss-up between Nurse Price and the bad girl in the howling, who was super hot in that picture!

My Recent Posts · Oct 6 09 11:37 AM

No contest: AWL

My Recent Posts · Oct 6 09 2:12 PM

(paraphrase): "Let me give you a piece of my mind." Always liked that line.

... Reed

My Recent Posts · Oct 6 09 3:35 PM

oldmanster wrote:
(paraphrase): "Let me give you a piece of my mind." Always liked that line.

Hey Reed ~

According to the commentary on THE HOWLING DVD, that line was improvised by the actor who said it (Robert Picardo, who played "Eddie Quist").

My Recent Posts · Oct 7 09 5:01 PM

AWIL. Not really close...the werewolves themselves were rather silly looking in Howling, like something from a tv show like Tales From the Darkside. Someone complained about the monster in AWIL? How about that cartoon transformation they resorted to in Howling? Those two essential faults drop it in the rankings for me. I do like the writing, characters etc. and the movie is fun. Not good enough to win out though.

Author	Comment
Count Karnstein		#121	[-]
Jan 25 08 2:01 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I agree with Spoiler II. I hated AWIL because of all stuff he mentioned, plus the "werewolf" looks more like a cross between a bear and a fat badger than a werewolf, and it moves like a clunky animatron in a department store. The end scene where it runs rampant in London was pitiful. Worst movie werewolf ever! And the worst werewolf movie ever as well! I'll take The Howling in my gulag cell any time! "It is no measure of health to be well adjusted in a profoundly sick society." - Krishnamurti
	Remove this ad
porta		#122	[-]
Jan 25 08 11:41 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	2 names in my book. Anyone else?
Lunkenstein		#123	[-]
Jan 26 08 12:42 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I still say the worst werewolf movie ever is THE ADVENTURES OF SHARKBOY AND LAVAGIRL. "What a delicious torture!"
SAM33		#124	[-]
Sep 27 08 8:02 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I just watched AWIL for the first time in about 20 years last night. Picked up the HD DVD cheap (it looks great). I LOVED this when it first came out. Saw it at least twice in the theater, and again on HBO or the like (wow, has it really been 28 years?) Somehow it doesn't hold up for me now. I didn't hate it, but I found it kind of "thin" and the ending just felt tacked on and abrupt - it didn't seem to know what it wanted to be. I also have always found the full size werewolf too stiff and unconvincing ( the big transformation scene is still great, however). For whatever reason, I've seen HOWLING more over the years, and I do like it better (I liked them equally on first theatrical viewing). It seems more complete and certain of itself and what it wants to be. Still respect both Landis and Dante and am glad they made these fan-savvy genre films. SAM33
HauntedGirl		#125	[-]
Sep 29 08 1:59 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I too am split 50/50. Jeez...Thanks for presenting the horror version of Sophie's Choice! "It's a perfect night for mystery and horror. The air itself is filled with monsters." -The Bride of Frankenstein 1935
Mark Hodgson		#126	[-]
Sep 29 08 4:32 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Don't make me choose. I love 'em both. Black Hole DVD Reviews
Doctor Wolfstein		#127	[-]
Sep 29 08 3:07 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	For all the people saying the AWIL werewolf is the worst ever put to film; are you sure about that? I always thought it was one of the best and can think of several others to which it's far superior. Really, there are some stinkers out there. That being said, while I think AWIL is a great monster movie The Howling is probably the best werewolf movie of all time and features what I will always consider to be the definitive movie werewolf. They're corrupt and evil, they regenerate, can transform whenever they want, (so you're never safe!) and they look scary as hell. Coolest werewolves ever imo, and I love how they stick to werewolf lore and can only be killed with silver or fire. I think the wooded location is used to great effect and while the more urban London setting in AWIL is an interesting change of pace it just doesn't sell me like those misty, creepy woods in The Howling does. AWIL also alters the werewolf lore quite a bit and while I think that's fine the whole person you killed returning as a wisecracking ghost thing really didn't work for me. Ultimately The Howling just feels more like a horror movie than AWIL, with the vague in-jokes, the creepy atmosphere, the silver bullets and the fact that it's Dick Miller selling them, the sometimes silly musical organ cues and an effectively utilized John Carradine. Joe Dante seemed to "get it" in a way that Landis didn't. To bad about the sequels to both films though! (Although The Howling Part 2 is enjoyable, but for all the wrong reasons!)
Andrew Kidd		#128	[-]
Oct 1 08 11:00 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I think the design and execution of the werewolf in AWIL is superb. It looks and moves like an actual animal, which was the likely intention of both Landis and Baker. Not only were actual quadraped werewolves a rarity prior to the film, but because the majority of them were actors in make-up, the personality of the human characters still came through. Because David's personality is completely submerged in his bestial form, it only makes sense that it be completely animalistic, down to the posture. In contrast, the werewolves in The Howling are expressions of the character's personalities; it makes much more sense to make them bipedal and even give a touch of humanity to the facial features because the characters were already bestial prior to their physical transformations.
porta		#129	[-]
Sep 30 09 6:43 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	So the digitally remastered version of AWIL is now out on DVD, with a great new feature length commentary 'Beware the Moon' where everyone pitches up. Rick Baker really impressed me in the documentary as a) being a genius and b) being a really nice guy. He spent most of his interview pointing out the work that his assistants did, and naming them. He's my new Horror Hero! My horrible blog: http://igloooftheuncanny.blogspot.com/
DocZilla		#130	[-]
Oct 1 09 1:17 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Mark me as a HOWLING fan, though I like AWIL well enough. When I first saw AWIL all those years ago, the werewolf design reminded me quite a bit of the Frank Frazetta werewolf from his, er, "Werewolf" from CREEPY #1 (written by Larry Ivie). I first read this in the CREEPY paperback omnibus 30 some years ago. The whole thing can be seen here: http://uraniumcafe-the.com/2008/09/24/frank-frazettas-fantastic-werewolf-story-from-creepy-1/
	Remove this ad
oldmanster		#131	[-]
Oct 1 09 1:56 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I remember this story. Like the werewolf concept very much -- the only recent film that's used this type of critter is Wild Country, an otherwise unmemorable low budget Irish/Scottish production. I seem to recall that Bernie Wrightson also created a truly great werewolf in another mag -- Swamp Thing, maybe? ... Reed
Koukol 5		#132	[-]
Oct 1 09 3:02 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	I probably said this already but I can't stand HOWLING. Don't hate me.
porta		#133	[-]
Oct 1 09 4:37 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Should there be separate Howling and AWIL threads though? This is the type of question that keeps me awake. ? My horrible blog: http://igloooftheuncanny.blogspot.com/
dracsback		#134	[-]
Oct 2 09 5:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	There should be different threads for DISSECTION discussion I guess. I always preferred THE HOWLING because the werewolves were scarier to me and you get a Forrest Ackerman cameo. But I do like AMERICAN WEREWOLF too. I would like to see THE HOWLING on Bluray. "I saw what I saw when I saw it!"
Talionis		#135	[-]
Oct 2 09 8:12 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	The Howling or American Werewolf In London, which is better? It's an interesting question to ask but for me, I couldn't give you a definitive answer because I like both movies based on the merits of each. The treatment of the werewolf in each one is different and I like them both. However, I did think that the werewolf in the latter film was kind of strange looking, still I liked the effects during the transformation. For the moment, I tend to favor The Howling, but only because I don't own the other flick yet. And I do like the story more in The Howling but that doesn't mean that it's better. People have their own tastes, some will like one over the other, and while it is fun to see what others' opinions are about either or both, it would be hard to discern which is actually better. Fun question, though!
delgadosaur		#136	[-]
Oct 5 09 5:30 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	Hi, Wanted to weigh in and state that while both movies are very cool, I'd have to go with AWIL, although it's such a close call even the two girls are a toss-up between Nurse Price and the bad girl in the howling, who was super hot in that picture!
Kolchak		#137	[-]
Oct 6 09 11:37 AM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	No contest: AWL
oldmanster		#138	[-]
Oct 6 09 2:12 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	(paraphrase): "Let me give you a piece of my mind." Always liked that line. ... Reed
Rakshasa		#139	[-]
Oct 6 09 3:35 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	oldmanster wrote: (paraphrase): "Let me give you a piece of my mind." Always liked that line. Hey Reed ~ According to the commentary on THE HOWLING DVD, that line was improvised by the actor who said it (Robert Picardo, who played "Eddie Quist"). Links To All The Classic Monster Stills I've Posted: http://monsterkidclassichorrorforum.yuku.com/topic/30758
unclefred		#140	[-]
Oct 7 09 5:01 PM Reply Quote More My Recent Posts	AWIL. Not really close...the werewolves themselves were rather silly looking in Howling, like something from a tv show like Tales From the Darkside. Someone complained about the monster in AWIL? How about that cartoon transformation they resorted to in Howling? Those two essential faults drop it in the rankings for me. I do like the writing, characters etc. and the movie is fun. Not good enough to win out though.
	Remove this ad

Yuku free message boards

THE HOWLING vs. AMERICAN WEREWOLF